Teen kidnapped and tortured with Samurai swords; 2 men arrested

Samurai swords were recovered at a martial arts academy as part of an investigation of a Lancaster teen who was kidnapped and tortured. (L.A. County Sheriff's Department)

Two men were arrested Thursday on suspicion that they kidnapped a Lancaster teen who was then tortured with lighted cigarettes, cut with Samurai swords and beaten, authorities said.

The victim, identified only as an 18-year-old man, was abducted Sept. 25 in Lancaster, and after enduring the torture, was released near 20th Street West and Avenue J, according to the the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

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The men were arrested after sheriff's deputies served search warrants at a home in the 8300 block of West Avenue F and at Ston Skoth Martial Arts Academies on 10th and 45th streets where several samurai swords were recovered.

At the home, deputies arrested Ston Lee. They also recovered a firearm, drug paraphernalia and a hydroponic marijuana grow, according to the sheriff's department.

The second suspect, Skoth Ly, was arrested at a separate home in the 44000 block of Gadsden Avenue.

Both men were booked on suspicion of kidnapping, torture and cultivating marijuana. They were held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

A third man, Anthony Valdizia, was arrested during the operation on suspicion of being a felon with a firearm. He was being held in lieu of $35,000 bail, authorities said.

Anyone with additional information on the case was asked to call sheriff's detectives at (661) 948-8466.